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Jim Royle: “I am unable to stand”

Lefty Labour rival backs out of Wavertree political race with bad back

Published on April 13th 2010.

JIM ROYLE will not be bidding to become the next MP for Wavertree.

The television star had declared his interest in standing in early February, in a protest move against Labour’s decision to select 28-year-old, Luciana “Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner” Berger, to contest the constituency.

But today the armchair-loving granddad issued a statement explaining that he was unable to stand.

A spokesman said: “Jim cannot stand because of personal reasons. They have made it impossible for him to stand,” he explained. “He has done his back in.”

Jim echoed this: “I am disappointed not to be able to stand,” he said. “Do us a favour and move out the way of the telly, luv.”

The saga has not been without its controversial moments since Ms Berger's candidacy was announced.

Only last month, she found herself in the media spotlight after she was accused of swapping her Toyota Yaris, complete with the personalised numberplate LU51 ANA, for something, well, a bit less Kensington SW7 and a bit more Kensington L7.

Jim said that he wished her well and that he had even lent her his own car, although it did need taxing, adding: “Piston broke last year, but weren't we all?”

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This election should be about politics, not personalities. Do we really want at Lib Dem MP in Wavertree when the Lib Dems run the council? Who will you turn to next time you find yourselves being stuffed by some local Lib Dem stunt? That is when you'll need a Labour MP.